The Cabin in the Woods is a modern horror classic that cleverly subverts and pays homage to the “cabin in the woods” horror subgenre. Directed by Drew Goddard and co-written by Joss Whedon, the 2011 film follows a group of college students who visit a remote cabin for a weekend getaway. But their vacation quickly turns into a nightmare as they fall victim to backwoods zombies controlled by mysterious underground scientists.
With its perfect blend of scares, laughs, and meta-commentary on horror tropes, The Cabin in the Woods is a truly unique film. But if you’re craving more cabin-set horror after watching it, we’ve got you covered. Here are 15 of the best movies like The Cabin in the Woods filled with dark humor, clever twists, and plenty of gore. Grab some popcorn (and maybe a security blanket), because it’s going to be a terrifying ride…
1. The Evil Dead (1981)
You can’t talk about cabin horror without mentioning Sam Raimi’s cult classic The Evil Dead. The film that launched a hugely successful franchise, The Evil Dead follows a group of friends who travel to an isolated cabin in the woods. There, they discover an ancient book that unleashes a demonic force, possessing and tormenting them one by one.
Shot on a shoestring budget, The Evil Dead became a cult hit thanks to its inventive camerawork, memorable practical effects, and the manic energy of star Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams. It’s a rollercoaster ride of gore and dark humor that directly inspired many elements of The Cabin in the Woods. If you want to see where the cabin horror craze began, The Evil Dead is a must-watch.
2. Evil Dead II (1987)
While not a direct sequel, Evil Dead II continues the bloody misadventures of Ash in the infamous cabin. Combining slapstick comedy with over-the-top gore, the film leans even further into the manic, darkly humorous tone that made the original a hit.
Bruce Campbell’s physical comedy chops are on full display as Ash battles his own demonically-possessed hand. Sam Raimi’s dynamic direction fills every frame with manic energy. Evil Dead II is a horror comedy classic that takes everything great about the original and dials it up to 11. It’s a groovy, gory good time.
3. The Evil Dead (2013)
Fede Alvarez’s 2013 Evil Dead reboot brings the franchise back to its hardcore horror roots. While not as comedic as the original films, the remake still delivers plenty of bloody, over-the-top set pieces as a group of friends try to survive a demonic attack in a remote cabin.
With intense, visceral gore and a committed cast, Evil Dead is a relentless modern horror film clearly inspired by the original. It captures the manic spirit and gross-out gags of the franchise while carving its own ultra-violent path. A must-see for fans of hardcore horror.
4. Cabin Fever (2002)
Before he became a household name with the Hostel films, Eli Roth made his directorial debut with this nasty little gem. Cabin Fever follows a group of college graduates who rent a cabin in the woods for a celebratory vacation. But their plans are ruined when they contract a horrific flesh-eating virus that spreads through the group.
Combining gross-out body horror with a darkly comedic sensibility, Cabin Fever is an early 2000s horror standout. The graphic effects of the virus taking hold are stomach-churning, but Roth leavens the gory horror with some pitch black humor. There are clear parallels to The Cabin in the Woods in its setup and tone. If you like your horror bloody, funny and clever, check out Cabin Fever.
5. Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010)
This hilarious horror comedy puts a clever spin on the “killer rednecks” trope. Tucker and Dale are two kind-hearted but scruffy friends who just want to renovate their dilapidated cabin. But when a group of preppy college kids mistakes them for murderous hillbillies, a series of escalating misunderstandings leads to gory mayhem.
With a sharp script that gleefully subverts and skewers horror clichés, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil is a bloody delight. There are clear parallels to The Cabin in the Woods in how it deconstructs genre tropes with meta humor. But the real joy is in the performances, especially Tyler Labine and Alan Tudyk as the lovable Tucker and Dale. It’s gory, goofy and surprisingly heartfelt.
6. The Ruins (2008)
Based on the terrifying novel by Scott Smith, The Ruins follows a group of friends whose Mexican vacation leads them to a remote archaeological dig in the jungle. But the Mayan ruins hide a malevolent force in the form of sentient, carnivorous vines that trap and terrorize the group.
The Ruins is a vicious, intense horror film that doesn’t hold back on the gore. Vines rip through flesh, burrow under skin, and even mimic their victims’ voices. The dread-soaked atmosphere and brutal violence make it a harrowing, nerve-shredding experience. If you want a more straightforward, plant-based riff on The Cabin in the Woods, give The Ruins a look.
7. Severance (2006)
Severance is a British horror comedy that follows a group of co-workers on a disastrous team-building retreat in the Hungarian mountains. When they stumble upon a remote lodge with a dark history, they find themselves stalked by a group of crazed, masked killers.
Mixing bloody horror with workplace comedy, Severance is a witty, gory delight. The script is packed with sharp dialogue and clever twists on genre conventions. And the cast, including Danny Dyer and Laura Harris, commit fully to the horror and the humor. It’s like The Office meets Friday the 13th, and it totally works.
8. You Might Be the Killer (2018)
In this clever meta-horror comedy, a camp counselor (Fran Kranz) wakes up surrounded by dead bodies with no memory of what happened. He calls his slasher film-obsessed friend (Alyson Hannigan) to help him figure out how to survive what seems to be a real-life slasher scenario.
Told largely in flashback, You Might Be the Killer has a lot of fun playing with the tropes and structure of classic summer camp slashers. Kranz is hilarious as the hapless protagonist, and Hannigan’s horror fangirl serves as a perfect audience surrogate. Featuring fun supporting turns from horror icons like Bryan Cranston, it’s a breezy, bloody treat for genre fans.
9. The Killage (2011)
This Australian horror comedy follows a group of eleven work retreat participants as their weekend getaway turns into a bloody nightmare when one of them is revealed to be a homicidal maniac.
With a satirical eye toward corporate culture and a game cast willing to play the most obnoxious stereotypes imaginable, The Killage is a very silly, very bloody good time. It gleefully sends up slasher movie clichés with a distinctly Aussie sense of humor that fans of The Cabin in the Woods will appreciate.
10. Friday the 13th (1980)
One of the most iconic summer camp slashers of all time, Friday the 13th set the template for many of the tropes The Cabin in the Woods would later send up. The film follows a group of counselors preparing to reopen the notorious Camp Crystal Lake. But one by one, they fall victim to an unseen killer with a grudge against the camp.
While later sequels would focus on Jason Voorhees and his hockey mask, the original Friday is a straightforward but effective slasher. Gruesome Tom Savini effects and Harry Manfredini’s iconic score help create a chilling atmosphere. Even if you know the story beats by heart, there’s still something primal and scary about watching these counselors get picked off in the woods.
11. The Strangers (2008)
Bryan Bertino’s home invasion thriller follows a couple (Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman) whose stay at a remote vacation home is violently interrupted by a trio of masked strangers. The intruders torment and terrorize the couple for seemingly no reason, leading to a night of brutal violence and survival.
With its stark realism and unnerving use of silence, The Strangers is a very different kind of horror film than the more comedic Cabin in the Woods. But it’s a masterclass in tension and atmosphere, wringing maximum scares out of minimalist techniques. If you want a more grounded, serious approach to the “remote location” horror setup, it’s one of the best.
12. Cabin in the Woods (2022)
Not to be confused with the Goddard/Whedon film, this 2022 horror movie (originally titled The Cellar) follows a family who moves to a remote cabin to repair their strained relationships. But the cabin’s dark history awakens, and soon the family is trapped in a terrifying fight for survival against a supernatural evil.
While it lacks the metatextual elements and humor of the 2011 film, this Cabin in the Woods still delivers some effective spooky atmosphere and creepy cabin scares. The family drama adds some welcome character dynamics to the traditional “cabin under siege” story. And there are some fun, bloody kills as the malevolent entity closes in.
13. Misery (1990)
Rob Reiner’s adaptation of the Stephen King novel follows a famous novelist (James Caan) who crashes his car in a blizzard and is “rescued” by his self-proclaimed number one fan, Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates). But the nurse’s devotion soon turns violent as she holds the author captive and forces him to resurrect her favorite character.
Misery is a different kind of “cabin in the woods” horror, with a snowy setting and only two main characters. But the isolated cabin becomes a crucible for a tense battle of wills between captor and captive. Bates is unforgettable as Annie, terrifying and darkly hilarious in her deranged obsession. It’s a masterful thriller that proves how much tension you can wring from a single location.
14. House on Haunted Hill (1999)
This remake of the Vincent Price classic follows a group of strangers offered a million dollars by an eccentric millionaire (Geoffrey Rush) to spend the night in a haunted asylum. But as they confront the house’s dark secrets, a sinister presence begins picking them off one by one.
With an over-the-top lead performance from Rush and plenty of gory, surreal haunted house scares, House on Haunted Hill is a fun, schlocky riff on a horror classic. The asylum setting puts a fresh spin on the “remote location” setup. And the visual effects, while dated, still pack a punch. It’s a solid pick for fans of 90s horror cheese.
15. Zombieland (2009)
This horror comedy follows a ragtag group of survivors navigating the zombie apocalypse. There’s Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), a neurotic loner with a list of rules for staying alive. Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), a gun-toting cowboy on a quest for Twinkies. And sisters Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), a pair of crafty con artists. Together, they take an eventful road trip across the ruins of America.
Like The Cabin in the Woods, Zombieland has a lot of fun subverting zombie movie tropes and delivering gory undead kills. The talented cast has great comedic chemistry, selling every joke and emotional beat. From a surprise cameo by Bill Murray to a climactic battle at a zombie-infested amusement park, it’s a hilarious, action-packed ride that never takes itself too seriously.
So there you have it – 15 movies like The Cabin in the Woods that prove why the “cabin in the woods” remains one of the most enduring, malleable horror setups. Whether it’s comedy, gore, supernatural scares or some combination, there’s no shortage of ways to make a remote cabin terrifying.
